11/28/2009

Estimated Property Damage Inflicted in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Filed under: — peter @ 8:37 pm

In this blog’s grand tradition of ceaselessly providing essential public services, here is a detailed invoice of the estimated property damage inflicted in the 1989 hit film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (in 2009 dollars):

Beautiful, expensive humor.

-Windows shattered by the unveiling of oversized Christmas tree: 2 windows at $700 each
-Superflouous destruction from tree: $100
-Yuppie neighbors’ high end stereo destroyed and window shattered by huge icicle: $780
-Clark’s flannel shirt ripped when stapling lights to the house: $20
-Hole in ceiling created when Clark is in attic: $988
-Yuppie neighbors’ dishes smashed and carpet stained with wine when the Griswold’s house lights up: $50
-Santa and reindeer lawn display kicked in by Clark: $99
-Saucer sled ripped to shreds when lubricated with a non-nutrative cereal varnish and ridden down a mountain and across a Wal-Mart parking lot: $15
-Damage to warming shed Clark sleds through: $350
-Light bulbs smashed by Cousin Eddie’s bag of dog food: $2
-Strand of Christmas lights chewed up by cat: $9
-Living room chair destroyed by flaming cat: $400
-Cat: $14
-Uncle Lewis’ suit burned in tree fire: $100
-Drapes burned in tree fire: $50
-Ornaments destroyed in tree fire: $75
-Superfluous damage and destroyed walls in tree fire: $1500
-Door knocker ripped off by delivery man: $65
-Yuppie neighbors’ dining room window smashed when Clark fells tree: $700
-Banister post chainsawed off by Clark: $60
-Door destroyed when Snots the dog smashes through it in squirrel chase: $148
-Fine china smashed by Snots and squirrel: $90
-Yuppie neighbor’s dress ripped apart by squirrel: $110
-Windows shattered by SWAT team: 4 at $700 each
-Yuppie neighbor’s door kicked in by SWAT team: $575
-Uncle Lewis’ toupee singed in gas explosion: $325
What!

-Final successful endeavor in Chevy Chase’s career: Priceless

That comes out to a grand total of some $10,825, not counting the inevitable city fines coming for starting a massive chemical explosion. The lesson learned by America? When in doubt, allow Chevy Chase set something on fire and let the good times roll!

6 Responses to “Estimated Property Damage Inflicted in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”

  1. Thom says:

    So is Community a return to form? Or a wishful attempt to gain relevancy?

  2. Peter says:

    Community’s alright, but have you paid attention to him on that show? His jittery mannerisms are like Michael Richards in withdrawl. Joel McHale does a great job on that show, but everyone else needs to take a deep relaxing breath before each take, in my opinion.

  3. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matt Heerema, Josh Cramer. Josh Cramer said: Estimated Property Damage Inflicted in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: http://tr.im/GUGP (via The John Larroquette Project) [...]

  4. Paul says:

    If we are talking replacement value, the cat costs more than $14. Factor in shots, adoption fees (from a shelter), spaying or neutering and you are probably close to $100. Around here (Iowa City) it would be $90. The fine china would be more than that, also, I would think, IF it really was “fine.”

    Cool idea for a list, tough. :-)

  5. [...] See this tally of monetary damages done in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. [...]

  6. [...] Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story. That’s why I appreciated this blog post estimating the cost of damage to the Griswold house in the former movie. I don’t know [...]

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